What’s Your Preference?

lindyannajones · #1 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 04:01 PM

The Afro-Brazilian group Batuaxe--"Batuca" meaning drum beat and "axe" meaning Life Force-performed this past weekend in the annual Dias de los Muertos parade. This celebration honors the memories of departed loved ones and is a long-held tradition in the Latin American culture. Some may recognize it as All Soul's Day.

Many of the celebrants--like Batucaxe--wore costumes and makeup that gave them a ghost-like appearance. I never realized that recognizing our own mortality could be so much fun. These are a few photos of group members. If you would like to get a sense of their sound, you can go to this link...and, trust me, you do!

Meet Kenya - He embodies the spirit of Batucaxe and winner of the Best Smile Ever!

This is Cliff, the artistic director of Batucaxe and drummer extraordinaire.

Drummer girl whose name I have yet to learn. Oh...them there eyes!

SoxAddict · #2 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 04:03 PM

Love these images, what great colors in those face paints.

fstopMike · #3 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 04:05 PM

Stunning shots, Lindy, and you are really enjoying this plunge into another culture, aren't you? I saw these on your flickr and was hoping you'd post an explanation. The drummer girl has the prettiest face ever made even prettier with the paint. Marvelous set!!!

beachcomber · #4 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 04:13 PM

Great smile, great drum and great eyes, I like them then all Lindy, Batuaxe and All Soul's Day gets my vote for a way to celebrate the memory and lives of friends and family no longer here

NetG · #5 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 04:14 PM

Thanks for posting these, Linda! You certainly some amazing shots of them! And I think we were all enamored of that young drummer whose name you don't know. She's beautiful, and she manages to smile with her entire body. Just stunning light coming from her.

This was a beautiful event, and I was glad Desert Rose and I got to join Linda in seeing it. I'm still trying to figure out which of my photos to post from it - it's definitely an experience with amazing images all around!

FoG · #6 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 04:15 PM

stunning shots all of them but WOW at her eyes and nice smile too (gets infatuated) lol

leonaashlee · #7 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 04:18 PM

Great shots Linda, especially the third one...

shishirtpathy · #8 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 05:08 PM

love these shots...thanx for sharing...and for the info abt the celebration....

vijaysanand · #9 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 06:02 PM

Very nice. colourful.

lindyannajones · #10 (**permalink**) 11-11-2009, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoxAddict

Love these images, what great colors in those face paints.

Thanks, so much, Nicky. It was pure joy to take these photos and fun to see the creativity that went into the paint.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fstopMike

Stunning shots, Lindy, and you are really enjoying this plunge into another culture, aren't you? I saw these on your flickr and was hoping you'd post an explanation. The drummer girl has the prettiest face ever made even prettier with the paint. Marvelous set!!!

Isn't she a darling? It is rare to see such natural beauty. This was, as you say, a plunge into another culture. This event has been going a number of years and this was my first time. The introvert in me avoids crowds but, you are right, it was fun. Made all the more enjoyable by meeting NetG and Desert Rose. Here's a photo I took for you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by beachcomber

Great smile, great drum and great eyes, I like them then all Lindy, Batuaxe and All Soul's Day gets my vote for a way to celebrate the memory and lives of friends and family no longer here

Amen to that. Clearly, it was a celebration. The spirit of the event was joyous. Here's another sample of the fun: